Process-Based Forward Numerical Modelling SIMSAFADIM-CLASTIC: The Vilomara Composite Sequence case

SIMSAFADIM-CLASTIC is a 3D process-based forward numerical model that simulates the stratigraphic infill and evolution of a marine sedimentary basin (Bitzer and Salas, 2001, 2002; Gratacós et al., 2009a, 2009b; Carmona et al., 2010; Clavera et al., 2013). The program is designed to model processes of transport and sedimentation for clastic terrigenous and clastic carbonate sediments. The program, also include the interaction between carbonate producing organisms and clastic sediments in suspension. Considering that, the objective of the program is to model and to represent the spatial and temporal interplay of the generated sedimentary bodies, obtaining realistic depositional architectures in order to reproduce the 3D sediment distribution and the complex heterogeneity present in the sedimentary record.

The model for siliciclastic transport and sedimentation is based on a potential fluid flow. This fluid flow model can establish the general trend of the flow system to determine the sediment transport in the basin over a geological time scale at basin scale (hundred meters to kilometres) with an acceptable computational time. Regarding to the sediment transport, the fluid flow model can determine the movement of solid particles in suspension due to fluid movement processes that include advection, diffusion, and dispersion. The carbonate production model is based in the generalized equation of Lotka-Volterra ecological modelling. The program takes into account the influence of environmental factors to model the carbonate producing organisms associations (water depth, nutrients, clastic sediment concentration is suspension, fluid flow velocity and bottom slope), and the interaction among them (predation, prey, mutualism, competition...). Other processes are modelled to generate (or reduce) accommodation space in the marine basin, including sea level variations, compaction, and isostasy.

In order to show the application and possibilities of the code, the Vilomara Composite Sequence (VCS) of Sant Llorenç del Munt (SLM) fan delta complex (NE Iberian Peninsula) is modelled.